Future Workforce Could Be at Risk as Hiring Managers Doubt High School Graduates’ Readiness

More than 80% of hiring managers think current high school graduates are not adequately prepared to enter the workforce. The majority also thinks high school graduates are less prepared than previous generations, and prefer college or trade school graduates, according to a September 2025 survey. The report from the College Board and U.S. Chamber of Commerce surveyed 500 hiring managers across companies of different sizes.

Hiring Managers Think College Grads Are More Qualified, But Fewer High Schoolers Are Going Straight to College

Around 90% of the hiring managers surveyed said that trade school or four-year college graduates with a credential within their industry are ready for an entry-level job. Considering fewer American high schoolers are going straight to college as the cost continues to rise, that means it’s getting harder for the managers to find a candidate they feel is the right fit.

In the fall of 2023, undergraduate college enrollment was estimated around 15.8 million students, down from a peak of just over 18 million in 2010, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Enrollment at four-year universities has increased at a slower rate since the Great Recession than the years prior, while enrollment to two-year programs like a community college have fallen since the 2010 peak by about 3 million students.

The Education Data Initiative estimates that about 62% of high school graduates attend some form of post-secondary education, while the rate of high schoolers enrolling in college directly after graduating high school has fallen almost 12% from the 2009 peak of 70% who went straight to college.

While half of the hiring managers in the Chamber of Commerce and College Board survey said they think it’s easy to find a candidate in their area or who is willing to work in-office, less than 40% called it easy to find one with the right skills or experience for their company. These managers are looking for ready-to-work employees because just under half said their company spends too much time and resources training new hires.

What Skills and Credentials Hiring Managers Are Actually Looking For

Hiring managers believe that credentials in a relevant field, or previous internships or leadership experience, make a candidate more likely to be hired in an entry-level role. Among the hiring managers surveyed, 78% said that young adults with at least one internship completed are likely prepared to enter the workforce. Internships were also the most common place where hiring managers said that critical early career skills are learned (46%), more than trade schools (40%) and four-year colleges (37%).

Nearly all of the surveyed hiring managers said they are more likely to hire a candidate who displays critical thinking or good communication skills. Both experience and soft skills are more important to hiring managers than a Bachelor’s degree.

So if you’re a recent grad, you may want to brush up on your “soft skills,” which hiring managers said are more important than what qualifications look like on paper. Among entry-level skills, several like understanding budgeting, taxes, and other financial literacy skills were cited by hiring mangers as the most beneficial for young workers.

“The earlier they learn to save and be responsible for the money they make, the more ready and stress-free they are to stay motivated at work,” one hiring manager said in the report.

The Bottom Line

Most hiring managers don’t believe today’s high school graduates are prepared to enter the workforce right after graduating, and prefer those with internships, or trade school and college experience. Fewer graduates are going straight to college today as the rising cost of education and living has led some to consider alternative routes to starting a career.

If you’re a soon-to-be or recent graduate looking to start a career without college, most hiring managers said internship or leadership experience, or developing soft skills like communication and critical thinking, are key to getting an offer.